A special post today in collaboration with Portland Spicy Peanut Butter. These Smoky Chili Peanut Butter Cookies are a fudgy, sweet and savory treat best enjoyed warm from the oven with a glass of milk. Spice it up a little and Keep Portland Weird with this quick bake! Note: If you can’t find ground guajillos,…
Author: Pragmatic Cooking
Pumpkin Spice Waffles with Pumpkin Brown Butter
I’d say I’m firmly in the November-is-pumpkin-season camp, rather than the November-is-Christmas-time camp. But regardless of your own affiliation, I hope you will enjoy these pumpkin spice waffles with pumpkin brown butter. I recommend serving them with real maple syrup for the full flavor experience. It’ll be incredible in October, November, or whenever you need…
Crisp Fennel Salad with Olives
This crisp fennel salad with olives possesses the perfect balance of flavors, and it looks as pretty as it tastes. It’s an interesting one for me, because I don’t especially like green olives! And yet here, alongside crunchy, aromatic fennel, bright citrus, and flavorful, salty cheese, they’re faultless. Although it’s at its very best freshly dressed, it also packs pretty well for a summer picnic.
S’Mores Rice Crispy Treats
If you’re already a fan, you probably don’t need any further convincing, but if you think rice crispy treats are a bit disappointing, hear me out! They don’t have to be plain. In this version, brown butter and salt add a little extra something on top of classic s’more flavors. Serious sweet tooths of all ages can rejoice!
I created these s’mores rice crispy treats to use up leftover graham crackers and marshmallows and from summer camping, before they go stale and the mallows inevitably become a sad, sticky amalgamation of once-pillowy puffs. This confection is quick to make and doesn’t require any oven use.
Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil (Aglio e Olio)
Spaghetti with garlic and oil is my latest quick-dinner fascination. I can just snag some parsley on the way home from work and the rest of the ingredients are probably already waiting in my pantry. I’m pretty much always in the mood for some pasta, and this dish is a nice change from a run-of-the-mill spaghetti with red sauce. It’s full of flavor thanks to an abundance of garlic and Parmesan, and striking a gorgeous balance between cool, fresh parsley and the heat of red pepper flakes. It’s a breeze to make and measuring isn’t really required once you’ve made it a time or two.
Ruby Chocolate Raspberry Fools
A simple dessert that’s rich and light at the same time. With pink hues that are sure to delight the eye, and fresh, juicy raspberries harmonizing with the toasty, fruity notes of ruby chocolate. My mousse-like version has a few more steps than a traditional fruit fool, but it’s still quite quick and easy to make and has the added benefit of being more stable! Ruby chocolate raspberry fools are perfect for finishing off a fancy dinner or as a romantic Valentine’s Day treat. This recipe makes just enough for 2, but it doubles or triples easily if you want to make it for a group.
Popovers with Clementines and Cream
Popovers are truly a delightful food; light, crisp, and hollow, just waiting to accommodate whatever fillings your heart desires! Here I’ve served them with a lazy pastry cream (no tempering or straining required here) and chewy poached clementines, both of which can be made ahead, by the way. These luxurious popovers with clementines and cream are the ultimate weekend brunch dish.
Delicata and Chevre Tacos
Tender squash, caramelized onions, goat cheese, black beans, and adobo come together with surprising ease to create a sweet, spicy, tart chorus of flavors that you need to be shoveling into your face ASAP.
Peach Tarts with Cookie Butter Frangipane
So, one great thing about being an adult is that no one can stop you from adding cookie butter to your patisserie. These rich mini peach tarts with cookie butter frangipane are truly irresistible from the bottom of their crisp, buttery shells to the top of their peach-adorned frangipane crowns.
Glossary of Terms
In this glossary I’ve collected some cooking terms you’ll come across in my (and other) recipes. I will continue to update it as I go along.